Marcus Semien, Liam Hendriks and more helped the Athletics to big series wins

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OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 21: Oakland Athletics pitcher Liam Hendriks (16) celebrates the last out of the game in ninth inning after New York Yankees’ Didi Gregorius (18) grounded out during a MLB game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 21: Oakland Athletics third base coach Matt Williams (4) congratulates Marcus Semien (10) on his two-run home run off New York Yankees starting pitcher J.A. Happ (34) in the third inning of a MLB game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Oakland Athletics’ Matt Olson, right, celebrates with Matt Chapman (26) after hitting a three-run home run off Houston Astros’ Aaron Sanchez during the fourth inning of a baseball game Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 17: Matt Chapman #26 of the Oakland Athletics celebrates after scoring on a single by Mark Canha #20 in the bottom of the third inning against the Houston Astros at Ring Central Coliseum on August 17, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Aug. 14: The Oakland Athletics’ Matt Chapman is congratulated by 3rd base coach Matt Williams after hitting a home run against the San Francisco Giants in the ninth inning, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2019, at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Aug. 14: The Oakland Athletics’ Matt Chapman homers against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2019, at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 17: Matt Olson #28 of the Oakland Athletics hits an RBI single in the bottom of the third inning against the Houston Astros at Ring Central Coliseum on August 17, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Oakland Athletics’ Mark Canha (20) celebrates his two-run home run with Matt Olson during the seventh inning of the team’s baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday, June 28, 2019, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Oakland Athletics’ Matt Olson lays down a successful bunt off Minnesota Twins pitcher Jose Berrios in the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 20, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 21: Oakland Athletics pitcher Liam Hendriks (16) celebrates the last out of the eighth inning after New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge (99) struck out during a MLB game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

OAKLAND — It was easy to look at the schedule and predict: This was the extended homestand that would unearth the A’s true postseason promise.

So far, so promising.

In four games against the Houston Astros, three — with the finale Thursday — against the New York Yankees, two more to cap a four-game Bay Bridge series against the San Francisco Giants, the A’s undeniably look to be playing their best baseball of 2019.

They split the first two at Oracle Park then claimed series wins from the Astros and Yankees, the two undeniably best teams in the American League.

Unexpected? Maybe, maybe not. The A’s continue to prove that they cannot only just compete; they can beat any team. Even if they’ll predictably downplay it.

“Good start for us, I don’t think we look too deep at it,” manager Bob Melvin said following Wednesday night’s series clincher against the Yankees. “To get to this point right now where we’ve won two series, it’s been a good start.”

And this recent stretch of success happened without Ramon Laureano’s dynamic playmaking and with typically-reliable Khris Davis in a painfully prolonged slump (with some respites like Wednesday night’s home run off J.A. Happ).

So, who made this happen?

Liam Hendriks

Blake Treinen went on the injured list way back on June 21 with a strain to his throwing shoulder. Since then, and even before that, Hendriks not only filled in, but transformed into one of the game’s most dominant closers.

Wednesday night he came full circle.

In less than a year: “Opener” Hendriks has been on the wrong side of an Aaron Judge two-run homer that broke open 2018’s AL Wild Card game, been designated for assignment, designated for garbage inning-eater duties, embarked on a 20 2/3 scoreless streak, saved 15 games with a 1.40 ERA in 24 games and struck out Judge himself swinging at his much-improved slider to preserve the A’s two-run lead on Wednesday night.

Those 6-foot-7 sluggers don’t look so imposing now.

“When I’m on the mound, I’m higher up than him,” Hendriks said.

Marcus Semien

Semien doesn’t carry confidence boisterously, perhaps like some of his teammates might. He hasn’t missed a game, and contributes both defensively and offensively with consistency. Against the Astros and Yankees, he’s been clutch: three home runs with a .304 average and .407 OBP.

Isolated series-by-series, Semien always finds ways to contribute. A’s GM David Forst put his contributions to the team best.

“Marcus has gone from just being consistent and kind of this stabilizing force to just being one of the stars of our team. While continuing to play every day,” he said. “So, you just have to point at his work ethic and how hard he works at the game and how much he wants to be a great player. He doesn’t get the attention that the guys on the corners do, and I think that’s just because of his personality. He’s understated, but you can point to numerous games where Marcus carried us, had three or four hits and put the team on his back.”

The Matts

Speaking of the guys on the corners…

Matt Chapman and Matt Olson flashed a ton of leather and put together key hits and home runs this homestand.

In San Francisco and against the Astros, Chapman batted .417 with four home runs (upping his home run count to 29 this year). Olson has three home runs and 10 RBIs in eight games.

Over the last eight games, the A’s have faced Madison Bumgarner, Justin Verlander, Zack Greinke and Domingo German along with some of the best bullpens in baseball. The Yankees’ bullpen’s 6.3 WAR ranks first among all teams, the Astros’ 3.71 ERA ranks third and the Giants’ 3.98 is fifth.

For the most part, the A’s rotation managed to match all those big names blow for blow. The new additions have come out with the headliners.

Homer Bailey, who’s struggled a few times, pitched seven shutout innings against the Giants and allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings against the Yankees. Tanner Roark, who got the ball Thursday against the Yankees, allowed just two runs in six innings against the mighty Astros lineup.

Back-to-back series against the game’s best could have knocked the A’s down easily. Instead, they seem to be almost on the other end of it with just a few scrapes and bruises.

With momentum to plant roots into a wild card spot…and perhaps make a run at the division, the A’s play the Giants twice before heading off to Kansas City and to the Bronx for three more against these Yankees.